Sports
Micro Analysis: Ilya Kovalchuk is better than advertised – Habs Eyes on the Prize
It was another embarrassing loss to the lowly Red Wings last night, and the playoffs are rapidly becoming a foolish dream. This will probably be another lost season for the Montreal Canadiens. “Easy” points escape them. The urgency of the situation seems to not have impressed itself on the team — or they are simply incapable of pulling the weight of injuries. One way or another, the time to dissect all of this will come later.
For now, there are still positives to concentrate on. The main one over the past two days has been the play of Ilya Kovalchuk.
There is something to be said about having no expectations. That usually makes for the best surprises. It’s only been two games, and there’s plenty of time for Kovalchuk’s performance to crash — he has not played much hockey in the past couple of months and keeping a high level of intensity can prove hard once the adrenaline of the first few games runs out — but still, the player that showed up in Montreal is not the disengaged and slow forward I thought he would be. Far from it. In half the shifts he has taken in bleu, blanc, et rouge, Kovalchuk has been one of, if not the best player on the ice.
Calling him a defensive stalwart would be a stretch. He still has some moments where he double-covers opponents, going for the puck and leaving someone behind. But he tries. Those mistakes could fix themselves with continued high engagement and more time inside Montreal’s system.
Right now, more often than not, Kovalchuk positively contributes to defence. Here are a few examples.
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The Russian forward plays defence aggressively. He prefers the winger defensive roles, and will switch with his centreman to move up the zone the first chance he can. But he doesn’t seem to cheat offensively at all. On the contrary, he collapses harder on opponents lower in the zone than most other skaters in his position.
In the first couple of games, he has been adding an extra layer of protection to the slot, cutting opposing passes heading there. It leaves space behind him, but he has shown himself aware of player movement to stop the odd back-door attempt.
He has also not been one to gun out of the zone, even if that is sometimes dictated by the Habs’ breakouts. He supports teammates. He remains low and finds outlets under pressure quite effectively, looking across the ice to hit linemates inside space after attracting opponents to himself.
Again, that might be his need to make a good first impression; nobody reveals flaws on a first date. But at least he shows himself capable of thinking defence first.
Another pleasant surprise is how hard he has been playing. He goes out of his way to throw hits, adding to the impression that he’s giving it his all. Big body slams are just a bonus. The real value is in how hard the winger has been skating.
It’s very noticeable on the forecheck. Kovalchuk doesn’t stop. He strides almost all the way into opponents and looks to free the puck from their grasp any way he can. If possession moves, he tracks it back at full momentum. He’s not all that quick, but a high motor and effort can compensate for a lot of flaws, including the limitations of a 36-year-old body.
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The last sequence in the video led to the first goal for Ben Chiarot on Monday. Kovalchuk successively battled against two opponents on the boards to free the puck, and then followed it up by beating his check in a race to the front of the net to serve as a screen for the release of his defenceman.
It’s a sequence many coaches could use to showcase the immediate benefits of a strong work ethic. And it features a forward who was healthy scratched for long stretches in his return to the NHL.
Experience complements effort there. At 6’3” and 223 pounds, Kovalchuk is imposing, and has the skill to know how to use his size to his advantage. It’s a deadly combination.
Take a look at some of the sequences below.
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As he skates in the slot to make a play on a pass or a shot coming to the net, he neutralizes defenders with his rear end. He turns to place it between his check and the puck, avoiding stick lifts. In the second clip, as he attempts a deflection, he backs his posterior toward a defender, forcing that defender to back off and brace for a reverse hit, which in turn makes the defender unable to neutralize Kovalchuk’s stick.
A player like Brendan Gallagher uses some of the same techniques to create scoring chances, but even with the added weight of his giant heart, the forward doesn’t match the size advantage of Kovalchuk. This is not saying that the Russian forward is more effective. Gallagher should absolutely reprise his role on the top line when he comes back; he’s a third of one of the best lines in hockey. Yet Kovalchuk still brings a different skill and physical mix to the Montreal squad, one they sorely miss, especially with Joel Armia out. He can finish in tight and set up others just as well.
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Right now, if Kovalchuk can maintain his high level of play, especially on the defensive side, he will continue being a great complement to just about any line configuration. He can play both wings and worked especially well with Nick Suzuki and Max Domi on certain shifts last night. The Red Wings are not the best defensive team, and in turn, not the best measure of the success of a trio, but the cumulative talent of those three forwards could likely hurt even better defending teams if they can keep the puck on the offensive side.
All in all, a Kovalchyuk resurgence could give the Habs options. He brings a much-needed offensive touch on the ice and could help them avoid a complete crash of their season, though that might feel inevitable right now. If it comes to it, he also becomes another asset at the trade deadline, or even a piece they could potentially re-sign to another inexpensive deal.
Who knows? We are just two games into Ilya Kovalchuk Habs tenure. But it’s at least something to get excited about.
Sports
Marchand says Maple Leafs are Bruins’ ‘biggest rival’ ahead of 1st-round series – NHL.com
BOSTON – Forget Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens.
For Brad Marchand, right now, it’s all about Bruins-Toronto Maple Leafs.
“You see the excitement they have all throughout Canada when they’re in playoffs,” Marchand said Thursday. “Makes it a lot of fun to play them. And I think, just with the history we’ve had with them recently, they’re probably our biggest rival right now over the last decade.
“They’ve probably surpassed Montreal and any other team with kind of where our rivalry’s gone, just because we’ve both been so competitive with each other, and we’ve had a few playoff series. It definitely brings the emotion, the intensity, up in the games and the excitement for the fans.
“It’s a lot of fun to play them.”
The Bruins and Maple Leafs will renew their rivalry in their first round series, which starts Saturday at TD Garden (8 p.m. ET; TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS). They’ll be familiar opponents.
Over the past 11 seasons, the Bruins have faced the Maple Leafs four times in the postseason, starting with the epic 2013 matchup in the first round. That resulted in an all-time instant classic, the Game 7 in which the Bruins were down 4-1 in the third period and came roaring back for an overtime win that helped propel them to the Stanely Cup Final.
That would prove to be the model and, in the intervening years, the Bruins have beaten them in each of the three subsequent series, including going to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference First Round in 2018 and 2019.
Which could easily be where this series is going.
“Offensively they’re a gifted hockey club,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Thursday. “They present a lot of challenges down around the netfront area. We’re going to have to be really sharp there. We’re a pretty good team defensively when we stick to what our principles are. So I expect it to be a tight series overall.”
But if anyone knows the Maple Leafs — and what to expect — it’s Marchand. In his career, he’s played 146 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, 11th most of any active player. Twenty-one of those games have come against the Maple Leafs, games in which Marchand has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists).
“They’re always extremely competitive,” Marchand said. “You never know which way the series is going to go. But that’s what you want. That’s what you love about hockey is the competition aspect. They’re real competitors over there, especially the way they’re built right now. So it’s going to be a lot of fun, and that’s what playoffs is about. It’s about the best teams going head-to-head.”
But even though the history favors the Bruins — including having won each of the past six playoff matchups, dating back to the NHL’s expansion era in 1967-68 and each of the four regular-season games in 2023-24 — Marchand is throwing that out the window.
“That means nothing,” he said.
The Maple Leafs bring the No. 2 offense in the NHL into their series, having scored 3.63 goals per game. They were led by Auston Matthews and his 69 goals this season, a new record for him and for the franchise.
“You have to be hard on a guy like that and limit his time and space with the puck,” forward Charlie Coyle said. “He’s really good at getting in position to receive the puck and he’s got linemates who can put it right on his tape for him. You’ve just got to know where he is, especially in our D zone. He likes to loop away after cycling it and kind of find that sweet spot coming down Broadway there in the middle. It’s not just a one-person job.”
Nor is Matthews their only threat.
“They have a lot of great players, skill players, who play hard and can be very dangerous around the net and create scoring opportunities,” forward Charlie Coyle said. “You’ve just got to be aware of who’s out there and who you’re against, who you’re matched up against, and play hard. Also, too, we’ve got to focus on our game and what we do well and when we do that, we trust each other and have that belief in each other, we’re a pretty good hockey team.”
Especially against the Maple Leafs.
Marchand, who grew up in Halifax loving the Maple Leafs, still gets a thrill to see their alumni walking around Scotiabank Arena in the playoffs. And it’s even more special to be on the ice with them, to be competing against them — even more so when the Bruins keep winning.
But that certainly doesn’t mean this series will be easy.
“They’ll be a [heck] of a challenge,” Marchand said.
Sports
NHL sets Round 1 schedule for 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Daily Faceoff
The chase for Lord Stanley’s silver chalice will begin on Saturday.
After what could be described as the most exciting season in NHL history that saw heartbreaks and last-ditch efforts to clinch playoff spots, players and staff now get ready as 16 teams go to battle.
We saw the Vancouver Canucks have a massive year and finish first in the Pacific Division with captain Quinn Hughes leading all defensemen in points. The Winnipeg Jets set a franchise record for most points. The Nashville Predators went on a franchise-record winning streak in order to lock themselves into a Wild Card spot, and the Washington Capitals clinched the last Wild Card spot in the East after a wild finish that saw the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers see their playoff hopes crumble in front of them.
While Auston Matthews missed out on scoring 70 goals, Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay Lightning standout Nikita Kucherov became the first players since 1990-91 to record 100 assists in a single season. They joined Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr as the only players to do so.
With the bracket set, it’s time to expect the unexpected.
Here is the schedule for Round 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
Eastern Conference
#A1 Florida Panthers vs. #WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
Date | Game | Time |
Sunday, April 21 | 1. Tampa at Florida | 12:30 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 23 | 2. Tampa at Florida | 7:30 p.m. ET |
Thursday, April 25 | 3. Florida at Tampa | 7 p.m. ET |
Saturday, April 27 | 4. Florida at Tampa | 5 p.m. ET |
Monday, April 29 | 5. Tampa at Florida | TBD |
Wednesday, May 1 | 6. Florida at Tampa | TBD |
Saturday, May 4 | 7. Tampa at Florida | TBD |
#A2 Boston Bruins vs. #A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
Date | Game | Time |
Saturday, April 20 | 1. Toronto at Boston | 8 p.m. ET |
Monday, April 22 | 2. Toronto at Boston | 7 p.m. ET |
Wednesday, April 24 | 3. Boston at Toronto | 7 p.m. ET |
Saturday, April 27 | 4. Boston at Toronto | 8 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 30 | 5. Toronto at Boston | TBD |
Thursday, May 2 | 6. Boston at Toronto | TBD |
Saturday, May 4 | 7. Toronto at Boston | TBD |
#M1 New York Rangers vs. #WC2 Washington Capitals
Date | Game | Time |
Sunday, April 21 | 1. Washington at New York | 3 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 23 | 2. Washington at New York | 7 p.m. ET |
Friday, April 26 | 2. New York at Washington | 7 p.m. ET |
Sunday, April 28 | 2. New York at Washington | 8 p.m. ET |
Wednesday, May 1 | 2. Washington at New York | TBD |
Friday, May 3 | 2. New York at Washington | TBD |
Sunday, May 5 | 2. Washington at New York | TBD |
#M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. #M3 New York Islanders
Date | Game | Time |
Saturday, April 20 | 1. New York at Carolina | 5 p.m. ET |
Monday, April 22 | 2. New York at Carolina | 7:30 p.m. ET |
Thursday, April 25 | 3. Carolina at New York | 7:30 p.m. ET |
Saturday, April 27 | 4. Carolina at New York | 2 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 30 | 5. New York at Carolina | TBD |
Thursday, May 2 | 6. Carolina at New York | TBD |
Saturday, May 4 | 7. New York at Carolina | TBD |
Western Conference
#C1 Dallas Stars vs. #WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
Date | Game | Time |
Monday, April 22 | 1. Vegas at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. ET |
Wednesday, April 24 | 2. Vegas at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. ET |
Saturday, April 27 | 3. Dallas at Vegas | 10:30 p.m. ET |
Monday, April 29 | 4. Dallas at Vegas | TBD |
Wednesday, May 1 | 5. Vegas at Dallas | TBD |
Friday, May 3 | 6. Dallas at Vegas | TBD |
Sunday, May 5 | 7. Vegas at Dallas | TBD |
#C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. #C3 Colorado Avalanche
Date | Game | Time |
Sunday, April 21 | 1. Colorado at Winnipeg | 7 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 23 | 2. Colorado at Winnipeg | 9:30 p.m. ET |
Friday, April 26 | 3. Winnipeg at Colorado | 10 p.m. ET |
Sunday, April 28 | 4. Winnipeg at Colorado | 2:30 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 30 | 5. Colorado at Winnipeg | TBD |
Thursday, May 2 | 6. Winnipeg at Colorado | TBD |
Saturday, May 4 | 7. Colorado at Winnipeg | TBD |
#P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #WC1 Nashville Predators
Date | Game | Time |
Sunday, April 21 | 1. Nashville at Vancouver | 10 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 23 | 2. Nashville at Vancouver | 10 p.m. ET |
Friday, April 26 | 3. Vancouver at Nashville | 7:30 p.m. ET |
Sunday, April 28 | 4. Vancouver at Nashville | 5 p.m. ET |
Tuesday, April 30 | 5. Nashville at Vancouver | TBD |
Friday, May 3 | 6. Vancouver at Nashville | TBD |
Sunday, May 5 | 7. Nashville at Vancouver | TBD |
#P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. #P3 Los Angeles Kings
Date | Game | Time |
Monday, April 22 | 1. Los Angeles at Edmonton | 10 p.m. ET |
Wednesday, April 24 | 2. Los Angeles at Edmonton | 10 p.m. ET |
Friday, April 26 | 3. Edmonton at Los Angeles | 10:30 p.m. ET |
Sunday, April 28 | 4. Edmonton at Los Angeles | 10:30 p.m. ET |
Wednesday, May 1 | 5. Los Angeles at Edmonton | TBD |
Friday, May 3 | 6. Edmonton at Los Angeles | TBD |
Sunday, May 5 | 7. Los Angeles at Edmonton | TBD |
Sports
With matchup vs. Kings decided, Oilers should be confident facing familiar foe – Sportsnet.ca
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